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U.S.DEPT. OF INTERIOR
RECEIVED
JUL 8 44 AM'63 JUL 5 1963
OFFICE OF
UNDER SECRETARY
Dear Governor Sawyer:
This refers to my telegram of June 28 rescheduling the meeting on lower Colorado River basin water problems for July 25 at 10 a.m.
It seemed desirable to explain to you in a little more detail the nature of the meeting. It is my view that we should start at the policy level, meeting with the Governors, their resource and water directors, and legal consultants, as required. It is my feeling that participation should be limited only to the highest level water policy officials of each of the States--preferably not to exceed five officials from each of the three States.
The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss possible way for allocating main-stream water when shortages occur. The Supreme Court's opinion of June 5, as you know, assigned this responsibility to the Secretary of the Interior. In the absence of an agreement between the States, and in the absence of any Congressional direction, this appears to be a logical procedure.
It is my hope, however, that through discussions with the State representatives and later with the appropriate representatives of the Congress, we can reach some agreement on a method of allocation which will be acceptable to the lower basin States. I hope that agreement can finally be reached for the lower basin as it has been by the upper Colorado River basin. In short, we need to minimize the range of executive discretion and maximize the agreement between the States as to how water should be allocated during shortages. We will make more progress toward objectives if your delegation is kept as small as possible.
I appreciate your taking time to meet with me on July 25.
Sincerely yours.
(sgd) Stewart
Secretary of the Interior
Hon. Grant Sawyer
Governor
State of Nevada
State Capitol
Carson City, Nevada
Identical Letter sent to: Governor Edmund G. Brown
State of California
Governor Paul Fannin
State of Arizona

U.S.DEPT. OF INTERIOR
RECEIVED
JUL 8 44 AM'63 JUL 5 1963
OFFICE OF
UNDER SECRETARY
Dear Governor Sawyer:
This refers to my telegram of June 28 rescheduling the meeting on lower Colorado River basin water problems for July 25 at 10 a.m.
It seemed desirable to explain to you in a little more detail the nature of the meeting. It is my view that we should start at the policy level, meeting with the Governors, their resource and water directors, and legal consultants, as required. It is my feeling that participation should be limited only to the highest level water policy officials of each of the States--preferably not to exceed five officials from each of the three States.
The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss possible way for allocating main-stream water when shortages occur. The Supreme Court's opinion of June 5, as you know, assigned this responsibility to the Secretary of the Interior. In the absence of an agreement between the States, and in the absence of any Congressional direction, this appears to be a logical procedure.
It is my hope, however, that through discussions with the State representatives and later with the appropriate representatives of the Congress, we can reach some agreement on a method of allocation which will be acceptable to the lower basin States. I hope that agreement can finally be reached for the lower basin as it has been by the upper Colorado River basin. In short, we need to minimize the range of executive discretion and maximize the agreement between the States as to how water should be allocated during shortages. We will make more progress toward objectives if your delegation is kept as small as possible.
I appreciate your taking time to meet with me on July 25.
Sincerely yours.
(sgd) Stewart
Secretary of the Interior
Hon. Grant Sawyer
Governor
State of Nevada
State Capitol
Carson City, Nevada
Identical Letter sent to: Governor Edmund G. Brown
State of California
Governor Paul Fannin
State of Arizona